The Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Local Government Staff Pension Board (LGSPB), Emeka Nwonu, has attributed delays in paying pensions and gratuities to ghost workers in the local government system. This issue, he said, has hindered payments to retired civil servants since the state’s creation in 1996.
Additionally, salaries for October 2024 for serving local government workers remain unpaid, causing growing concern among employees.
Clarification on Local Government Autonomy
At a press briefing in Abakaliki, Nwonu explained that Governor Francis Nwifuru has no control over local government funds due to financial autonomy. Instead, funds for salaries, pensions, and allowances are managed by local government areas and the Local Government Service Commission.
Nwonu commended Governor Nwifuru for clearing ₦7 billion in pensions and gratuities owed to state civil servants while emphasizing the governor’s hands-off approach to local government finances.“His Excellency advises local government chairmen on best practices but does not interfere in their financial operations,” Nwonu stated.
Tackling Pension Debt
Nwonu outlined steps taken to address the pension backlog, including:
- Verification and Profiling: A detailed review identified ₦9 billion owed to 4,920 retirees and 1,135 deceased pensioners.
- Collaboration with Local Government Chairmen: Committees were formed to ensure accountability in processing payments.
- Physical Verification: To eliminate ghost workers, a table payment method and verification exercises were implemented across the 13 local government areas.
Challenges and Progress
The LGSPB uncovered corruption in salary management, where salaries inexplicably increased despite retirements. The discovery prompted local government chairmen to demand verification before payments.
“The current chairmen inherited pension debts due to the previous cessation of 15% remittances from local government salaries and allowances,” Nwonu revealed.
Commitment to Transformation
Nwonu reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling Governor Nwifuru’s directive to improve conditions for retirees. “The governor has shown unwavering support for senior citizens and is committed to ensuring they receive their deserved benefits,” he stated.
With verification processes nearing completion, Nwonu assured that the LGSPB is working diligently to resolve all pension-related issues.
